Sensorless position detection for electric motor

ABSTRACT

An apparatus includes an electric motor including a stator and a translator; a three-phase inverter electrically coupled to the electric motor; a power source electrically coupled to the three-phase inverter; and a controller communicatively coupled to the three-phase inverter. The controller is programmed to determine at least three measurements at different times of flux linkage from the electric motor, represent the measurements in Clarke coordinates, determine Clarke coordinates of a center of a circle defined by the Clarke coordinates of the measurements, and determine a position of the translator relative to the stator based on the Clarke coordinates of the center of the circle.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles typically include suspension systems. The suspension system ofa vehicle is coupled to the vehicle frame and to each wheel assembly.The suspension system absorbs and dampens shocks and vibrations from thewheel assemblies to the vehicle frame. For each wheel assembly, thesuspension system includes an upper control arm, a lower control arm, acoil spring, and a shock absorber. The shock absorber extends throughthe coil spring. One end of the shock absorber and the coil spring maybe connected to the lower control arm, and the other end of the shockabsorber and the coil spring may be connected to the upper control armor to the vehicle frame. The shock absorber is typically hydraulic orpneumatic, but the shock absorber can instead be electromagnetic, inwhich an electric motor serves to absorb and dampen shocks andvibrations transmitted to the wheels by a road surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example suspension system.

FIG. 2 is diagram of an example electric motor.

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of an apparatus including the electricmotor.

FIG. 4 is a feedback block diagram for determining a flux linkage of theelectric motor.

FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram of an example process for determining acenter of a flux-linkage circle in Clarke coordinates.

FIG. 6 is a plot of flux linkage of the electric motor in Clarkecoordinates.

FIG. 7A is a plot showing the flux linkage of the electric motor in thealpha dimension versus time.

FIG. 7B is a plot showing the flux linkage of the electric motor in thebeta dimension versus time.

FIG. 7C is a plot of a weighting factor for the flux linkage versustime.

FIG. 7D is a plot of the flux linkage over a first timespan in Clarkecoordinates.

FIG. 7E is a plot of the flux linkage over a second timespan in Clarkecoordinates.

FIG. 8 is a process flow diagram of an example process for controllingthe apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the Figures, an apparatus 30 includes an electricmotor 32 including a stator 34 and a translator 36; a three-phaseinverter 38 electrically coupled to the electric motor 32; a powersource 40 electrically coupled to the three-phase inverter 38; and acontroller 42 communicatively coupled to the three-phase inverter 38.The controller 42 is programmed to determine at least three measurementsat different times of flux linkage from the electric motor 32, representthe measurements in Clarke coordinates, determine Clarke coordinates ofa center of a circle 600 defined by the Clarke coordinates of themeasurements, and determine a position of the translator 36 relative tothe stator 34 based on the Clarke coordinates of the center of thecircle 600.

The electric motor 32 can be used as component of a suspension system 18for a vehicle 16, specifically as a shock absorber. An advantage of theelectric motor 32 following the method described below over a differenttype of shock absorber is that a position sensor can be eliminated ordouble-checked. The apparatus 30 can be used for regenerative shockabsorption, i.e., for charging the power source 40 using roadvibrations. The apparatus 30 and the method described herein providesensorless control for the electric motor 32, whether or not theapparatus 30 is part of the suspension system 18. Omitting a positionsensor 56 simplified the design of the electric motor 32 and provides aconsiderable cost reduction. Alternatively, the method can provide acheck on the functioning of the position sensor 56, if present. Themethod provides an efficient manner to compensate for errors inmeasuring the flux linkage through the electric motor 32. The methodavoids using filters, and the method can provide reliable informationabout the position of the electric motor 32 across a wide range offrequencies, even low frequencies, of motion of the translator 36relative to the stator 34.

With reference to FIG. 1, the vehicle 16 includes a vehicle frame 20,the suspension system 18 coupled to the vehicle frame 20, and a wheelassembly 22 coupled to the suspension system 18. The wheel assembly 22is movable, e.g., vertically, relative to the vehicle frame 20 via thesuspension system 18. For each wheel assembly 22 of the vehicle 16, thesuspension system 18 includes an upper control arm 24, a lower controlarm 26, a coil spring 28, and the electric motor 32. In the context ofthe suspension system 18, the electric motor 32 is an electromagneticshock absorber. The electric motor 32 serves as the shock absorber andcan replace a traditional hydraulic or pneumatic shock absorber. Theelectric motor 32 may supplement the coil spring 28, or the electricmotor 32 may replace the coil spring 28. If both are present, theelectric motor 32 can extend through the coil spring 28, as shown inFIG. 1. The electric motor 32 is coupled directly or indirectly to thevehicle frame 20 and the wheel assembly 22 so that as the wheel assembly22 moves relative to the vehicle frame 20, the translator 36 movesrelative to the stator 34, i.e., so that the translator 36 moves withone of the vehicle frame 20 and the wheel assembly 22 and the stator 34moves with the other of the vehicle frame 20 and the wheel assembly 22.For example, one end of the electric motor 32 and the coil spring 28 maybe connected to the lower control arm 26, and the other end of theelectric motor 32 and the coil spring 28 may be connected to the uppercontrol arm 24 or the vehicle frame 20. Specifically, one of the stator34 and the translator 36 is fixed to the upper control arm 24 or vehicleframe 20, and the other of the stator 34 and the translator 36 is fixedto the wheel assembly 22. The electric motor 32 can serve as a shockabsorber in other arrangements of suspension systems besides what isshown in FIG. 1.

With reference to FIG. 2, the electric motor 32 functions as a motor andalso functions as a generator. The electric motor 32 converts electricalenergy to mechanical energy and vice versa. The mechanical energy takesthe form of movement of the translator 36 relative to the stator 34. Inthe context of the electric motor 32 serving as a shock absorber, thetranslator 36 can move relative to the stator 34 because of roadunevenness, and the electric motor 32 can resist the motion and/or movethe translator 36 in response to motion caused by the road.

As shown in FIG. 2, the electric motor 32 is a permanent-magnetsynchronous motor and is a linear electric motor. The electric motor 32includes a stator 34 and a translator 36, which moves along an axis Xrelative to the stator 34. Alternatively, the electric motor 32 can be arotary electric motor in which the translator 36 is a rotor that rotatesabout the axis X relative to the stator 34.

The stator 34 includes a core 44 of magnetic material and electric coils46, 48, 50 wound around the core 44. The stator 34 receives three-phaseelectric power through the electric coils 46, 48, 50, which include afirst coil 46, a second coil 48, and a third coil 50. The AC powersupplied to the coils 46, 48, 50 creates a magnetic field that, combinedwith the field of permanent magnets 52, 54 of the translator 36, cangenerate a force parallel to the axis X (or torque about the axis X, ifthe electric motor 32 is rotary) on the translator 36.

The translator 36 includes a series of the permanent magnets 52, 54,specifically, a plurality of first permanent magnets 52 and secondpermanent magnets 54 alternating along the axis X (or alternating aroundthe axis X if the electric motor 32 is rotary and the translator 36 is arotor). The first permanent magnets 52 have opposite magneticorientations than the second permanent magnets 54.

With reference to FIG. 3, the three-phase inverter 38 is electricallycoupled to the electric motor 32. The three-phase inverter 38 convertsdirect current from the power source 40 to alternating current deliveredto the coils 46, 48, 50. The three-phase inverter 38 includes threeinverter switch legs each connected to one of the coils 46, 48, 50.

The power source 40 is electrically coupled to the three-phase inverter38. The power source 40 supplies direct current power to the three-phaseinverter 38. The power source 40 can be one or more batteries, e.g.,lithium-ion batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries, lead-acidbatteries, etc.; or one or more capacitors, e.g., a supercapacitor. Inparticular, the power source 40 can be a supercapacitor becausesupercapacitors recharge and discharge faster than batteries and cantolerate more charge-discharge cycles than batteries.

The controller 42 is communicatively coupled to the three-phase inverter38 to provide a control signal to the three-phase inverter 38. Thecontroller 42 can be a microprocessor-based computing device, e.g., anelectronic controller or the like, a field-programmable gate array(FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc. Thecontroller 42 includes a processor, a memory, etc. The memory of thecontroller 42 includes media for storing instructions executable by theprocessor as well as for electronically storing data and/or databases.The controller 42 can be multiple controllers coupled together.

The apparatus 30 can include a position sensor 56 coupled to theelectric motor 32 to detect a position of the translator 36 relative tothe stator 34. The position sensor 56 may be any sensor providing anoutput mapping onto a linear (or rotary) position of the translator 36relative to the stator 34, e.g., a capacitive transducer, a capacitivedisplacement sensor, an eddy-current sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, aHall effect sensor, an inductive noncontact position sensor, a linearvariable differential transformer, a piezoelectric transducer, apotentiometer, a proximity sensor, a linear coder, a stringpotentiometer, etc. As described below with respect to FIG. 8, thecontroller 42 can determine the position of the translator 36 relativeto the stator 34 without using the position sensor 56 and can comparethat result with the position as reported by the position sensor 56.Alternatively, the electric motor 32 can lack the position sensor 56,and the controller 42 can determine the position of the translator 36relative to the stator 34 in a sensorless manner.

With reference to FIG. 4, a feedback loop 400 is shown for compensatingfor offsets in the measured back-emf of the electric motor 32 to controlthe electric motor 32. The feedback loop 400 is performed by thecontroller 42. The memory of the controller 42 may store executableinstructions for performing the steps of the feedback loop 400, or thecontroller 42 may include multiple controllers each programmed toperform some of the steps shown in FIG. 4 and coupled together totransmit data as shown in FIG. 4. As a general overview of the feedbackloop 400, an uncompensated back-emf measurement EMF_(αβ, i)* is receivedfrom the electric motor 32, the offset in this measurement iscompensated for by subtracting the output of a proportional-integral(PI) controller 410, the resulting compensated back-emf measurementEMF_(αβ, i) is integrated to a flux-linkage measurement Ψ_(αβ, i) by anintegrator 415, at least three flux-linkage measurements Ψ_(αβ, i) areused to determine a center Ψ_(c) of a circle 600 defined by theflux-linkage measurements Ψ_(αβ, i) in a center estimator 420, aweighting factor K_(R) is determined, the center Ψ_(c) and the weightingfactor K_(R) are multiplied in a multiplication block 425, and the PIcontroller 410 generates the compensation to feed into the summationblock 405 based on the resulting product. The weighting factor K_(R) isa scalar quantity representing the quality of the flux-linkagemeasurements Ψ_(αβ, i) for determining the center Ω_(c). The currentflux linkage Ω_(αβ), as compensated by the feedback loop 400, is used toactuate the electric motor 32 based on the position of the translator 36relative to the stator 34.

The summation block 405 receives the uncompensated back-emf measurementEMF_(αβ, i)*, which can be determined from the measured three-phasecurrents i_(abc) and the measured stator 34 voltages u_(abc). First, thethree-phase currents i_(abc) and the measured stator voltages u_(abc)are transformed into Clarke coordinates by using the simplified Clarketransformation, also referred to as the alpha-beta transformation:

${i_{\alpha\beta}(t)} = {{T{i_{abc}(t)}} = {{\frac{2}{3}\begin{bmatrix}1 & {- \frac{1}{2}} & {- \frac{1}{2}} \\0 & \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} & {- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}}\end{bmatrix}}\begin{bmatrix}{i_{a}(t)} \\{i_{b}(t)} \\{i_{c}(t)}\end{bmatrix}}}$${u_{\alpha\beta}(t)} = {{T{u_{abc}(t)}} = {{\frac{2}{3}\begin{bmatrix}1 & {- \frac{1}{2}} & {- \frac{1}{2}} \\0 & \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2} & {- \frac{\sqrt{3}}{2}}\end{bmatrix}}\begin{bmatrix}{u_{a}(t)} \\{u_{b}(t)} \\{u_{c}(t)}\end{bmatrix}}}$in which i is current, u is voltage, T is the Clarke transformation, tis time, and a, b, and c represent the first coil 46, the second coil48, and the third coil 50, respectively. The Clarke transformation T isgeometrically interpreted as a projection of a three-part quantityassociated with the electric coils 46, 48, 50 onto two stationary axes,the α-axis and the β-axis, i.e., Clarke coordinates. All quantities inClarke coordinates are thus two-dimensional vectors. The uncompensatedback-emf measurement EMF_(αβ, i)* in Clarke coordinates can bedetermined from the three-phase currents i_(αβ) op and the statorvoltages u_(αβ) in Clarke coordinates:

${EMF}_{\alpha\beta}^{*} = {u_{\alpha\beta} - {\begin{bmatrix}{R_{s} + {L_{s\;\alpha}\frac{d}{dt}}} & {L_{s\;{\alpha\beta}}\frac{d}{dt}} \\{L_{s\;{\alpha\beta}}\frac{d}{dt}} & {R_{s} + {L_{s\;\beta}\frac{d}{dt}}}\end{bmatrix}i_{\alpha\beta}}}$in which R_(s) is the winding resistance of the stator 34, L_(sα) is thesynchronous inductance in the α dimension, L_(sβ) is the synchronousinductance in the β dimension, and L_(sαβ) is the mutual coupling. Inmany cases, the contributions of the synchronous inductance and mutualcoupling terms are negligibly small and can be ignored. Theuncompensated back-emf measurement EMF_(αβ, i)* is then fed into thesummation block 405.

The summation block 405 subtracts the compensation from the PIcontroller 410 from the uncompensated back-emf measurement EMF_(αβ, i)*to arrive at the compensated back-emf EMF_(αβ, i). The compensation isinitially (0, 0) and remains (0, 0) until a minimum number ofmeasurements are collected for the center estimator 420, as describedbelow.

The integrator 415 determines a flux-linkage measurement Ψ_(αβ, i) fromthe compensated back-emf EMF_(αβ, i) by integrating the compensatedback-emf measurements EMF_(αβ, i) over time:Ψ_(αβ)(t)=∫_(t) ₀ ^(t) EMF _(αβ)(τ)dτ+Ψ _(αβ)(t ₀)in which Ψ_(αβ)(t₀) is the initial flux linkage. The flux-linkagemeasurements Ψ_(αβ) are represented in Clarke coordinates. Theintegrator 415 can include two scalar calculations, one for the alphaterms and one for the beta terms.

The center estimator 420 needs at least three flux-linkage measurementsΨ_(αβ, i) at different times to determine the center Ψ_(c) of the circle600, as shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 shows the circle 600 with center Ψ_(c)(Ψ_(α, c), Ψ_(β, c)). The circle 600 and thus the center Ψ_(c) aredefined by three flux-linkage measurements Ψ_(αβ, i) at differentpoints, Ψ_(αβ, 1)=(Ψ_(α, 1), Ψ_(β, 1)), Ψ_(αβ, 2)=(Ψ_(α, 2), Ψ_(β, 2)),Ψ_(αβ, 3)=(Ψ_(α, 3), Ψ_(β, 3)). By collecting at least four flux-linkagemeasurements Ψ_(αβ, i), the center Ψ_(c) is overdetermined, and thecenter estimator 420 can use least-squares estimation to determine thecenter Ψ_(c), The center estimator 420 determines the center Ψ_(c) ofthe circle 600 and the weighting factor K_(R) in a process 500, which isdescribed below. The center Ψ_(c) and the weighting factor K_(R) aremultiplied together in the multiplication block 425, and the resultingweighted center K_(R)Ψ_(c) is fed to the PI controller 410.

The PI controller 410 provides proportional and integral compensation tothe center Ψ_(c), specifically on the weighted center K_(R)Ψ_(c). Theweighted center K_(R)Ψ_(c) provides the error function for theproportional and integral compensation, and (0, 0) is the setpoint. Byoutputting to the summation block 405, the PI controller 410 forms thefeedback loop 400, in which the flux linkage Ψ_(αβ) is proportionallyand integrally compensated and then becomes one of the flux-linkagemeasurements Ψ_(αβ, i) to determine the center Ψ_(c) of the circle 600.The proportional compensation and integral compensation each correct foroffsets to the center Ψ_(c). The proportional compensation corrects forthe initial flux linkage Ψ_(αβ)(t₀). The integral compensation correctsfor offset voltage. The PI controller 410 can include two scalarcalculations, one of the alpha terms and one for the beta terms.

The output of the feedback loop 400 is the current flux linkage Ψ_(αβ),which is compensated so that the center Ψ_(c) is equal to (0, 0). Withthe center Ψ_(c) corrected to (0, 0), the current flux linkageΨ_(αβ)=(Ψ_(α), Ψ_(β)) provides the position of the translator 36relative to the stator 34. Specifically, the angle θ_(e) of the currentflux linkage Ψ_(αβ) maps one-to-one onto the linear position of thetranslator 36 relative to the stator 34 along the axis X, so the angleθ_(e) can be taken as the position of the translator 36 relative to thestator 34. If the electric motor 32 is rotary, the angle θ_(e) directlydescribes the rotational position of the translator 36 around the axis Xrelative to a fixed reference point on the stator 34. The position θ_(e)is given by the equation θ_(e)=arctan(Ψ_(β)/Ψ_(α)). The controller 42actuates the electric motor 32 based on the position θ_(e) of thetranslator 36 relative to the stator 34. For example, the controller 42instructs the three-phase inverter 38 to move the translator 36 to atarget position based on the actual position θ_(e) of the translator 36.The target position can be, e.g., a fixed position to which thetranslator 36 returns after absorbing a shock from a road.

FIG. 5 is a process flow diagram illustrating the exemplary process 500for determining the center Ψ_(c) of the circle 600 and the weightingfactor K_(R), i.e., what is performed by the center estimator 420 in thefeedback loop 400. The memory of the controller 42 stores executableinstructions for performing the steps of the process 500. As a generaloverview of the process 500, the controller 42 collects the flux-linkagemeasurements ω_(αβ, i), determines the center Ψ_(c) of the circle 600,and determines the weighting factor K_(R).

The process 500 begins in a block 505, in which the controller 42collects the flux-linkage measurements Ψ_(αβ, i). To determine thecenter Ψ_(c) of the circle 600, the controller 42 needs at least threeflux-linkage measurements Ψ_(αβ, i). By collecting at least fourflux-linkage measurements Ψ_(αβ, i), the center Ψ_(c) is overdetermined,and the controller 42 can use least-squares estimation to determine thecenter Ψ_(c).

Next, in a block 510, the controller 42 determines the center Ψ_(c) ofthe circle 600. Specifically, the controller 42 calculates the centerΨ_(c) by applying least-squares estimation by applying the equationΨ_(c)=A^(†)B, in which the dagger symbol superscript (^(†)) representsthe pseudoinverse of a matrix (also called the Moore-Penrose inverse),and A and B are given by

$A = \begin{bmatrix}{\psi_{\alpha,1} - \psi_{\alpha,2}} & {\psi_{\beta,1} - \psi_{\beta,2}} \\\vdots & \vdots \\{\psi_{\alpha,{N - 1}} - \psi_{\alpha,N}} & {\psi_{\beta,{N - 1}} - \psi_{\beta,N}}\end{bmatrix}$ $B = {\frac{1}{2}\begin{bmatrix}{\psi_{\alpha,1}^{2} - \psi_{\alpha,2}^{2} + \psi_{\beta,1}^{2} - \psi_{\beta,2}^{2}} \\\vdots \\{\psi_{\alpha,{N - 1}}^{2} - \psi_{\alpha,N}^{2} + \psi_{\beta,{N - 1}}^{2} - \psi_{\beta,N}^{2}}\end{bmatrix}}$in which ψ_(α, i) is the ith flux-linkage measurement in the alphadimension in Clarke coordinates, ψ_(β, i) is the ith flux-linkagemeasurement in the beta dimension in Clarke coordinates, and N is thenumber of flux-linkage measurements. The pseudoinverse of A is given byA^(†)=(A^(T)A)⁻¹A^(T), in which T is the transpose operator. The centerΨ_(c) can be calculated with the following equation equivalent toA^(†)B:

$\Psi_{c} = {\frac{1}{{\left( {\sum_{i = 1}^{N - 1}a_{i1}^{2}} \right)\left( {\sum_{i = 1}^{N - 1}a_{i2}^{2}} \right)} - \left( {\sum_{i = 1}^{N - 1}{a_{i1}a_{i2}}} \right)^{2}}\begin{bmatrix}{{\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N - 1}a_{i2}^{2}} \right)\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N - 1}{a_{i\; 1}b_{i}}} \right)} - {\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N­1}{a_{i\; 1}a_{i2}}} \right)\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N - 1}{a_{i2}b_{i}}} \right)}} \\{{\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N - 1}a_{i1}^{2}} \right)\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N - 1}{a_{i2}b_{i}}} \right)} - {\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N - 1}{a_{i1}a_{i2}}} \right)\left( {\sum\limits_{i = 1}^{N - 1}{a_{i\; 1}b_{i}}} \right)}}\end{bmatrix}}$in which a_(i1) is the element in the ith row and first column of thematrix A, i.e., a_(i1)=ψ_(α, i)−ψ_(α, i+1); a_(i2) is the element in inthe ith row and second column of the matrix A, i.e.,a_(i2)=ψ_(β, i)−ψ_(β, i+1); and b_(i) is the element in the ith row ofthe matrix B, i.e., b_(i)=½(ψ_(α, i) ²−ψ_(α, i+1) ²+ψ_(β, i)²−ψ_(β, i+1) ²). If the controller 42 has already determined the centerΨ_(c) at least once, the controller 42 only needs to update the bottomrow in each matrix A and B and move the rest of the rows up, i.e., makethe ith row into the (i−1)th row. Thus, for each summation term in theabove equation, the new summation term can be calculated by startingwith the previous summation term result, subtracting the argument fori=1, and adding the argument for i=N; for example, for the summationterm Σ_(i=1) ^(N-1)a_(i1)b_(i), the new result is the previous result,minus a₁₁b₁, plus a_(N1)b_(N). This iterative updating allows forefficient use of computational resources.

Next, in a block 515, the controller 42 determines the weighting factorK_(R). The weighting factor K_(R) expresses the quality, e.g.,signal-to-noise ratio, of the flux-linkage measurements. For example,the weighting factor K_(R) is inversely related to a condition numberκ(.) of a matrix of the flux-linkage measurements Ψ_(αβ, i). Thecondition number KO of a matrix is the ratio of the maximal singularvalue of the matrix to the minimal singular value of the matrix, i.e.,κ(M)=σ_(max)(M)/σ_(min)(M), in which M is an arbitrary matrix. Thecondition number ranges from 1 to infinity, with values close to 1representing that calculations involving the matrix M will magnify noiseby a relatively small amount, and large values representing thatcalculations involving the matrix M will magnify noise by a relativelylarge amount. Specifically, the weighting factor K_(R) is given by anequation of this form:

$K_{R} = \frac{1}{{\kappa\left( {A^{T}A} \right)}^{x}}$in which x is a positive number. In particular, x can equal 2. Theweighting factor K_(R) ranges from 0 to 1, with values close to 0representing a large amount of noise in calculating the center Ψ_(c),and values close to 1 representing a small amount of noise incalculating the center Ψ_(c). After the block 515, the process 500 ends.In running the feedback loop 400, the controller 42 may perform theprocess 500 several times, e.g., once per time step of the controller42.

FIGS. 7A-E are plots showing the convergence of the center Ψ_(c) overthe course of running the feedback loop 400. FIGS. 7A and 7B show theelements of the flux linkage Ψ_(αβ)=(Ψ_(α), Ψ_(β)) over time, with thedashed lines representing the true values of the flux linkage Ψ_(αβ) andthe solid lines representing the values of the flux linkage Ψ_(αβ)outputted by the feedback loop 400. FIG. 7C shows the weighting factorK_(R) over time. When the weighting factor K_(R) is close to 0, the PIcontroller 410 provides comparatively less compensation, and when theweighting factor K_(R) is close to 1, the PI controller 410 providescomparatively more compensation. FIG. 7D shows a trace of the fluxlinkage Ψ_(αβ) in Clarke coordinates, starting from an initial positionof (0, 0) at t=0 and converging to a circle 600 centered on (0, 0) byt=1. FIG. 7E also shows a trace of the flux linkage Ψ_(αβ) in Clarkecoordinates but for only t=0.8 to t=1, before which time the fluxlinkage Ψ_(αβ) has converged to the circle 600 centered on (0, 0).

FIG. 8 is a process flow diagram illustrating an exemplary process 800for controlling the apparatus 30. The memory of the controller 42 storesexecutable instructions for performing the steps of the process 800. Asa general overview of the process 800, the controller 42 continuouslyperforms flux-linkage regulation according to the feedback loop 400 in ablock 805; continuously actuates the electric motor 32 based on theposition of the translator 36 relative to the stator 34 in a block 810;optionally operates the electric motor 32 as a generator to charge thepower source 40 in a block 815; after waiting for the measured fluxlinkage to stabilize in a block 820, continuously compares (in adecision block 830) the position according to the feedback loop 400 witha position received from the position sensor 56 in a block 825; andprovides a warning if the difference between the reported positions isgreater than a threshold in a block 835. “Continuously” performing astep means that the controller 42 continues performing the step as theprocess 800 moves to the next step. Thus, FIG. 8 shows an order in whichthe steps initialize, and once initialized, the blocks 805, 810, and 815continue being performed as the remaining blocks are performed. As notedabove, the electric motor 32 can be constructed without the positionsensor 56, in which case the steps of comparing the positions andproviding the warning are not performed.

In the block 805, the controller 42 performs the flux-linkage regulationdescribed above with respect to the feedback loop 400 and the process500. The feedback loop 400 outputs the current flux linkageΨ_(αβ)=(Ψ_(α), Ψ_(β)), from which the controller 42 calculates theposition θ_(e) of the translator 36 relative to the stator 34 with theequation θ_(e)=arctan(Ψ_(β)/Ψ_(α)).

In the block 810, the controller 42 actuates the electric motor 32 basedon the position θ_(e) of the translator 36 relative to the stator 34.Specifically, the controller 42 instructs the three-phase inverter 38 tomove the translator 36 to a target position based on the actual positionθ_(e) of the translator 36. For example, the target position can be afixed position to which the translator 36 returns after absorbing ashock from a road.

In the block 815, the controller 42 charges the power source 40 withpower generated by movement of the electric motor 32, i.e., withmovement of the translator 36 relative to the stator 34. The electricmotor 32 acts as a generator. In effect, the electric motor 32 providesregenerative shock absorption. For example, if the controller 42 isprogrammed to operate the electric motor 32 to mimic a conventionaloil-based shock absorber, the electric motor 32 will recapture some ofthe energy that would have been expended heating the oil in theconventional oil-based shock absorber.

Next, in the block 820, the controller 42 waits for the center Ψ_(c) ofthe circle 600 to stabilize to (0, 0), i.e., for the flux linkage Ψ_(αβ)to stabilize to the circle 600 centered on (0, 0), as shown in FIG. 7E.For example, the controller 42 can wait for a preset time afterbeginning the process 800. The preset time can be chosen experimentallybased on how long the flux linkage Ψ_(αβ) typically takes to stabilizeto the circle 600. For another example, the controller 42 can wait untilthe center Ψ_(c) is within a preset distance from (0, 0) for a presettime. The preset distance can be chosen to be negligibly small, and thepreset time can be chosen to sufficiently long to indicate that thecenter Ψ_(c) has stabilized rather than coincidentally landed on (0, 0).While waiting, the controller 42 continues performing the flux-linkageregulation, actuating the electric motor 32, and charging the powersource 40 as described in the blocks 805 to 815.

Next, in the block 825, the controller 42 receives data indicating aposition θ_(p) of the translator 36 relative to the stator 34 from theposition sensor 56.

Next, in the decision block 830, the controller 42 determines whether adifference Δθ between the position θ_(p) of the translator 36 from thesensor and the position θ_(e) of the translator 36 based on the centerΨ_(c) of the circle 600 exceeds a threshold Δθ*, i.e., whetherΔθ=|θ_(p)−θ_(e)|>Δθ*. The threshold Δθ* can be chosen based on a knownresolution or noisiness of the position sensor 56. If the difference isgreater than the threshold, i.e., Δθ>Δθ*, the process 800 proceeds tothe block 835. If the difference is less than the threshold, i.e.,Δθ<Δθ*, the process 800 ends or restarts.

In the block 835, the controller 42 provides a warning. For example, thecontroller 42 can transmit a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) indicating afault and containing an appropriate code to an on-board diagnosticssystem of the vehicle 16. After the block 835, the process 800 ends.

The disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner, and it isto be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended tobe in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Theadjectives “first” and “second” are used throughout this document asidentifiers and are not intended to signify importance, order, orquantity. Many modifications and variations of the present disclosureare possible in light of the above teachings, and the disclosure may bepracticed otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: an electric motorincluding a stator and a translator; a three-phase inverter electricallycoupled to the electric motor; a power source electrically coupled tothe three-phase inverter; and a controller communicatively coupled tothe three-phase inverter and programmed to determine at least threemeasurements at different times of flux linkage from the electric motor;represent the measurements in Clarke coordinates; determine Clarkecoordinates of a center of a circle defined by the Clarke coordinates ofthe measurements; and determine a position of the translator relative tothe stator based on the Clarke coordinates of the center of the circle.2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is a linearelectric motor.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the power source isa supercapacitor.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electricmotor lacks a position sensor.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising a position sensor coupled to the electric motor to detect aposition of the translator relative to the stator, wherein thecontroller is further programmed to receive data indicating the positionof the translator relative to the stator from the position sensor, andprovide a warning in response to a difference between the position ofthe translator from the position sensor and the position of thetranslator based on the center of the circle exceeding a threshold. 6.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is further programmedto charge the power source with power generated by movement of theelectric motor.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising avehicle frame and a wheel assembly movable relative to the vehicleframe, wherein the electric motor is coupled to the vehicle frame and tothe wheel assembly so that as the wheel assembly moves relative to thevehicle frame, the translator moves relative to the stator.
 8. A methodfor controlling an electric motor including a stator and a translator,the method comprising: determining at least three flux-linkagemeasurements at different times from the electric motor; representingthe flux-linkage measurements in Clarke coordinates; determining Clarkecoordinates of a center of a circle defined by the Clarke coordinates ofthe flux-linkage measurements; and determining a position of thetranslator relative to the stator based on the Clarke coordinates of thecenter of the circle.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprisingproviding proportional compensation to the center of the circle.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, further comprising providing integral compensation tothe center of the circle.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein theproportional compensation is further based on a weighting factor,wherein the weighting factor is inversely related to a condition numberof a matrix of the measurements of flux linkage.
 12. The method of claim11, wherein the weighting factor is given by an equation of this form:$K_{R} = \frac{1}{{\kappa\left( {A^{T}A} \right)}^{x}}$ wherein K_(R) isthe weighting factor, K(.) is the condition number of a matrix, x is apositive number, and the matrix A is given by the following equation:$A = \begin{bmatrix}{\psi_{\alpha,1} - \psi_{\alpha,2}} & {\psi_{\beta,1} - \psi_{\beta,2}} \\\vdots & \vdots \\{\psi_{\alpha,{N - 1}} - \psi_{\alpha,N}} & {\psi_{\beta,{N - 1}} - \psi_{\beta,N}}\end{bmatrix}$ wherein Ψα, i is the ith flux-linkage measurement in thealpha dimension in Clarke coordinates, Ψβ, i is the ith flux-linkagemeasurement in the beta dimension in Clarke coordinates, and N is thenumber of flux-linkage measurements.
 13. The method of claim 9, whereinthe proportional compensation forms a feedback loop in which a measuredback-emf is proportionally compensated and then, after integration,becomes one of the flux-linkage measurements used to determine theClarke coordinates of the center of the circle.
 14. The method of claim8, further comprising actuating the electric motor based on the positionof the translator relative to the stator.
 15. The method of claim 8,wherein collecting at least three flux-linkage measurements includesdetermining at least four flux-linkage measurements, and determining theClarke coordinates of the center of the circle includes applyingleast-squares estimation to the Clarke coordinates of the flux-linkagemeasurements.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein applying theleast-squares estimation includes applying this equation:Ψ_(c)=A^(†)B wherein Ψ_(c) is the center of the circle in Clarkecoordinates, A and B are matrices given by the following equations, andthe dagger symbol represents the pseudoinverse of a matrix:$A = \begin{bmatrix}{\psi_{\alpha,1} - \psi_{\alpha,2}} & {\psi_{\beta,1} - \psi_{\beta,2}} \\\vdots & \vdots \\{\psi_{\alpha,{N - 1}} - \psi_{\alpha,N}} & {\psi_{\beta,{N - 1}} - \psi_{\beta,N}}\end{bmatrix}$ $B = {\frac{1}{2}\begin{bmatrix}{\psi_{\alpha,1}^{2} - \psi_{\alpha,2}^{2} + \psi_{\beta,1}^{2} - \psi_{\beta,2}^{2}} \\\vdots \\{\psi_{\alpha,{N - 1}}^{2} - \psi_{\alpha,N}^{2} + \psi_{\beta,{N - 1}}^{2} - \psi_{\beta,N}^{2}}\end{bmatrix}}$ wherein Ψα, i is the ith flux-linkage measurement in thealpha dimension in Clarke coordinates, Ψβ, i is the ith flux-linkagemeasurement in the beta dimension in Clarke coordinates, and N is thenumber of flux-linkage measurements.
 17. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising charging a power source with power generated by movement ofthe electric motor.
 18. A controller comprising a processor and a memorystoring instructions executable by the processor to: determine at leastthree flux-linkage measurements at different times from an electricmotor, the electric motor including a translator and a stator; representthe flux-linkage measurements in Clarke coordinates; determine Clarkecoordinates of a center of a circle defined by the Clarke coordinates ofthe flux-linkage measurements; and determine a position of thetranslator relative to the stator based on the Clarke coordinates of thecenter of the circle.